Lotus Europa custom... finished!

[jaymcminn]

Here's the WIP thread for this one... http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=77115

This is a mild custom buildup of the Tamiya Lotus Europa Special kit. Paint is Testors One-Coat Fiery Orange with One-Coat clear. Carbon fiber decals are SMS High-Def. Wheels are Fujimi Minilites. Wing is an Aoshima Tuner Series wing with the uprights modified and scratchbuilt end plates. Exhaust was constructed from a parts-box muffler with styrene pipes and tailpipes from the Hasegawa Ferrari 250 TR.

Blacking out most of the trim really makes the little Europa look a lot meaner. I got it to sit as low as possible given that any lower would have meant major surgery to the kit.

Kit carbs were replaced with Accurate Miniatures Corvette Grand Sport units. Engine bay heat shielding is Wilton cake foil.

Overall this was a fun little build... the Europa kit is pretty much par for the course as far as Tamiya's 90's releases go. It goes together great with no surprises. If I can get my hands on another cheap enough, I might have to do a widebody version! As it stands, I already have a Lotus 7 on the way... it will wind up as a companion piece for this one, but that's another thread.

As always, any questions and comments are welcome!

[blunc]

I like it!

great color, nice finish and details.

[cobraman]

Beautiful build. I would like it more without the spoiler but thats just me. You did do a very nice job with this kit.

[Jantrix]

Man, I really like this. Very rare, and very well done.

[Austin T]

Very sharp.

[Kennyboy]

Just a beautiful job on this!!

Really love what you did with the engine bay and the stance is just perfect!

[sjordan2]

Superb work. Super clean and beautifully finished. A bit too much metal flake for me, but photography can make that look more extreme than it is.

Edited August 1, 2013 by sjordan2

[Davewilly]

Very nice Lotus! Turned out great I like all the mods you did and thanks for pointing them out and the tip on the cake foil insulation!

[jaymcminn]

Thanks, everybody!

Superb work. Super clean and beautifully finished. A bit too much metal flake for me, but photography can make that look more extreme than it is.

Skip, photos actually don't lie in this case. The Fiery Orange, like most of the One-Coat paints, has a LOT of flake in it. Normally I tend to stay away from them for that reason, but on this particular car I wanted that heavy metalflake effect.

[Tom Geiger]

Very very nice! I love the color scheme. I'm gonna have to get me one of those!

[Chris White]

Beautifully done, really enjoyed following this build, thanks

[Helix]

Impressive work Jason

[Gluhead]

Very sharp.

[PappyD340]

Very well done Jason, most IMPRESSIVE!!

[S. Svendsen]

Very cool

[mitchell]

the 90's Tamiya has a magic to them, the are so accurate looking and the engineering is just amazing. Details are among the best in the business. Too bad, they started to simplified their current offering. You did a great job on this one and I will make one of these in the near future. The 7 in 1/24 scale is also a classic piece. But i am sure you will need to make more modification on that one since it is one of their early releases. But overall the 7 is a great piece too.

[sportandmiah]

Lovely build Jay!

[Phildaupho]

Great looking custom of an unusual subject. On a recent episode of Over Haulin, Chip Foose and team customized a Lotus Europa which I thought was surprising but turned out very nice.

[Dr. Cranky]

You sure build beautiful models, buddy. Wow.

[Volvoman]

A very nice build!! After having built this very kit I can see the extra work you have put into this stunning build. Its beautiful!!